Reptiles & Amphibians
The Isle of Man’s only land-based reptile
The common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), also known as the viviparous lizard, is the Isle of Man’s only native land-based reptile. It is found across upland habitats including heathlands, woodland edges, and grazed grasslands.
As cold-blooded animals, common lizards rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. In upland areas, where temperatures are cooler, basking sites such as stone walls, exposed ground, log piles, and boardwalks are vital for thermoregulation and shelter from predators and human disturbance.
Unlike most reptiles, common lizards give birth to live young—a key adaptation to cooler upland climates.
Habitat fragmentation poses a major threat, reducing access to feeding, breeding, and sheltering areas. Degraded peatlands further impact lizards by lowering humidity and soil moisture, making conditions less suitable and reducing invertebrate prey availability. As peatlands become more isolated, lizard movement between habitats is restricted.
To minimise disturbance, peatland restoration works are scheduled outside the lizard breeding season (April–August), aligning with bird conservation efforts.
Frogs & Toads
Common frog (Rana temporaria) is the only native amphibian. They are widespread across the Island, including upland areas. They breed in pools, ponds and wet scrapes during spring, and spend the rest of the year in damp grassland and heathland habitats. They are carnivorous, surviving on a diet of invertebrates including flies, worms, snails and slugs. Their tadpoles feed on algae in the water.
Frogs and their frogspawn are protected under the Isle of Man Wildlife Act 1990. Upland frog populations may be slower to develop due to damper, colder temperatures, and shorter growing seasons.
Common frogs are predated by herons, birds of prey, and domestic cats. Their tadpoles are also often preyed on by fish species, severely reducing the success of breeding.
Did you know?
Frogs can breathe through their skin as well as when using their lungs.
Newts
On the Isle of Man, palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus) and smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) are not native species, but they have been introduced and are now present in various parts of the island, including upland areas.
Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus) favour shallow ponds on acidic soils, making them well-suited to upland environments such as heathlands, moorlands, and bogs. Outside the breeding season, they are found in damp terrestrial habitats, often under logs or stones. They can tolerate drier conditions than smooth newts and may be found further from water. Palmate newts have a plain throat (unlike the spotted throat of smooth newts), and males are distinguished by their tail filament and webbed feet. They benefit from wet scrapes and rewetting across the Island’s peatlands.
Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) are less common than palmate newts in upland areas. They prefer neutral to slightly alkaline ponds, which are less typical of upland soils. They are less tolerant of drier and acidic conditions like peatlands. Male smooth newts develop a wavy crest along the back and tail during breeding.
